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To compare the birthers to the Sept. 11 truthers is to ask whether there are differential levels of crazy. The outward difference, however, is that the Sept. 11 nutjobs have been given limited media time by the mainstream media and the blogosphere, whereas the birther wackos have had a continuous platform in the media courtesy of irresponsible elected officials (or in the case of Trump, blowhard game show hosts), whereas the Sept. 11 conspiracies have been confined to the margins of credibility.

Mainstream Democrats haven't had to waste their breath on disavowing the Sept. 11 nuttos because no one takes them seriously. The GOP, on the other hand, has said a lot but done little of any consequence to tamp down the racist, idiotic, and hallucinatory ravings of the birthers.

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